Governments across the region have sought to manage potentially negative impacts of the Gaza conflict, as consumers have latched on to a boycott of US franchises to express their anger over Israel’s actions. While Omanis and Kuwaitis are notably enthusiastic, their Saudi and UAE peers seem less engaged in the protest but, whatever the public response, the boycotts highlight the potential for a dangerous divide to emerge between leaders and their subjects on the emotive Palestinian issue, which most regimes had come largely to ignore until Hamas launched its October attack.
